a luxury train trip like the Orient Express lasting almost two months for $120,000 visiting 12 countries

It is often said that It’s the journey that counts, not the destination.. In this era of EasyJet and other RyanAirs, this is certainly the case for luxury trains. Much more than a means of transport, these train journeys are genuine adventures, tinged with romance and an idyllic vision of travel in the style of Orient Express.

For steam locomotive enthusiasts, for lovers of luxury trains, for adventurers of faraway lands or to live the myth, Rail Bookers proposes the ultimate luxury trip around the world in 59 days by 2025.

Seven trains and four continents

More than a Hypothetical route between Europe and Singaporesuch as the one that was possible between Lagos, in the south of Portugal, and the city-state in Southeast Asia before Russia invaded Ukraine, this proposal is that of a genuine around the worldusing some of the world’s finest luxury trains.

Suppose you get on board. The trip will take almost two months, you will travel on seven different trains through 12 countries and four continentsAlong the way, you will pass 21 nights aboard these luxury trains and 32 nights in luxury hotels, with stops at the Taj Mahal, Edinburgh Castle, the Blue Mosque, you can go on safaris in Africa and enter tiger sanctuaries in Malaysia, for example.

These are the seven trains that the company has chosen for the journey of a lifetime.

Rocky Mountaineer

The journey begins in Canada. One of North America’s most famous trains, the Rocky Mountaineer, departs from Vancouver to take in some of the most impressive scenery in northwestern Canada, thanks to its panoramic carriages. The journey will take a week to travel through the northern Rocky Mountains and will end in Banff National Park, not far from Calgary.

Royal Scotsman

From Canada, you will have to fly to Scotland. And the Royal Scotsman departs from Edinburgh. But this luxury train, made up of nine mahogany-clad carriages, carrying a maximum of 36 passengers and which is nothing short of a real palace on wheels, will not take its passengers to London to board a Eurostar on the way to Paris. No, it is a three-day trip through the Scottish Highlands. On the programme, local dishes, live entertainment and a trip to Inverlochy Castle for tea.

The Sweet Life

From the UK, you’ll fly to Rome and board La Dolce Vita, the latest train in the Orient Express fleet. This two-night appetizer of fine dining and views of the Italian countryside will take you to Venice before the good stuff begins.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

The time has come for the great journey. You will embark on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, made famous by, among other artists, Agatha Christie and his character Hercules PoirotSteeped in romance and glamour, the Art Deco-style Venice Simplon Orient-Express evokes a time when travel was more elegant.

The train features the original carriages from 1929, restored to perfection. This stage will take you from Venice to Paris and then to Bucharest to end at the gateway to Asia, IstanbulIt is the almost historic journey of the original Orient Express.

Maharajas Express

In India, you’ll spend a week aboard the Maharajas’ Express, a luxurious train with Victorian-inspired décor and impeccable service. From Delhi to Mumbai, you’ll explore India’s vibrant culture and historic sites. But before we head further into Asia, we’ll take a short detour to South Africa.

Rovos Rail

The Rovos Rail is one of the most luxurious ways to discover South AfricaThis sumptuous rail service combines safari and retro ambience. Guests enjoy the comfort of period armchairs in panelled lounges, or prefer to watch local wildlife from balconies. The classic route from Pretoria to Cape Town meanders gently through bustling grasslands, vineyards and towering mountains, with a visit to Victoria Falls the most spectacular stop on this 13-day journey.

Eastern & Oriental Express

And we come to the final route of this half-world journey, in Southeast Asia aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express, a train with a colonial atmosphere that leaves Singapore and returns to Singapore. On the program for this trip: cabins with cherry wood panels and haute cuisine. The highlight of the trip comes with the visit to the tiger sanctuaries And after the emerald green rice fields, we see the famous Bridge over the River Kwai.

The trip, not including airfare, costs a whopping $120,000. The experience will be unique, however. That said, it’s a shame the organisers haven’t included South America in their programme, with Peru’s Andean Explorer or Argentina’s Train to the Clouds.